A unique bottle of Torabhaig Founders Reserve, which crossed the Atlantic Ocean aboard a hydrogen balloon, is set to go under the hammer in an auction raising funds for the Isle of Skye. The bottle, numbered 001 of 100 and signed by the three pilots who completed the historic flight, will be offered by Whisky Auctioneer during its October auction.
The whisky travelled more than 3,280 miles (5,282 km) aboard the Atlantic Explorer, which departed from Presque Isle, Maine, and landed in Bastendorf, Luxembourg, on 7 June 2026. The flight lasted approximately 70 hours and marked the first successful manned transatlantic balloon crossing using hydrogen as its sole source of lift.
The three-person crew consisted of Alicia Hempleman-Adams, Bert Padelt and Peter Cuneo. Travelling in an open basket at an average altitude of 14,000 feet and reaching speeds of up to 100 km/h, the pilots completed the crossing in a flight that also made Hempleman-Adams the first British woman, and only the second woman in history, to cross the Atlantic by gas balloon.
Following the landing, all three pilots signed the bottle. Its provenance will be documented in a certificate of authenticity accompanying the whisky at auction.
The full hammer price will be donated to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic college on Skye located a few miles from Torabhaig Distillery. The institution has a longstanding relationship with the distillery and plays an important role in supporting Gaelic language and culture on the island.
Torabhaig Senior Brand Manager Emma Sprackling described the bottle’s journey as an extraordinary extension of the whisky’s connection to Skye, while Alicia Hempleman-Adams welcomed the opportunity to raise money for charity through the auction.
Whisky Auctioneer Head of Marketing Eilidh Jack also highlighted the opportunity for collectors worldwide to bid for a bottle with an unusual history, with proceeds supporting the future of Gaelic culture.
The whisky itself has a distinctive production history. Torabhaig Founders Reserve was distilled in April 2018 and bottled on 14 August 2023. It was matured in ex-bourbon barrels and virgin American oak and bottled at 60.1% ABV.
The auction will run from 23 October to 2 November 2026 through Whisky Auctioneer.
Following its conclusion, Torabhaig will also release the remaining 95 bottles from the original Founders Reserve allocation. These bottles did not travel on the balloon flight, but each will include an A6 postcard featuring an image of the flown bottle and the pilots’ signatures.
The remaining bottles will be offered exclusively through the Torabhaig webshop by ballot at £200 per bottle, after the auction closes on 2 November. All proceeds from this release will also go to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.
The auction offers collectors the opportunity to acquire a bottle of Scotch whisky associated with a record-setting expedition, while supporting a Gaelic cultural institution on the island where the whisky was produced.
